Allen Americans Affiliate With Ottawa/Belleville Senators - The Details

 Here is the press release announcing the affiliation: https://allenamericans.com/news/2025/08/americans-announce-nhlahl-affiliation

 

The long journey to acquire an affiliation for the Allen Americans has finally come to fruition with a one-year agreement with the Ottawa/Belleville Senators. Asking about the affiliation was the #1 question I have been asked about throughout the summer, so now that the question has been answered, I had a chance to get the complete story from Steve Martinson on the process and outcomes.

 

- The very first step Martinson took when he and Myles Jack shook hands on a coaching deal, long before the May 12 press release announcing his selection, was to send an email to every NHL team. Even though he knew teams don't change affiliations that are working, and many were already committed for 2025-26, he wanted all NHL teams to know he would be coaching in Allen and was looking for an affiliation. Just in case someone was looking to make a change. 

 

- The reality of the affiliation situation became clear very early. Allen was the only ECHL team without an affiliation, and there were only three NHL teams that didn't have an affiliation: the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Utah Mammoth, and the Ottawa Senators. Complicating things was the fact that Allen already had an affiliation history with Utah (2024-25) and Ottawa (2022-23 & 2023-24) before Martinson arrived. Allen left the Ottawa affiliation unceremoniously after the 2023-24 season, which created some ill will for various reasons. The Utah affiliation last season was a problem from Martinson's perspective, because he feels that having two contracted goalies assigned with very few skaters assigned creates a problem and the communication with Utah wasn't very good. 

 

- Columbus was out of the picture very early in the process, so Martinson spent weeks talking to Utah and Ottawa. There was a time when it realistically seemed likely that Allen would not have an affiliation. Ottawa was happy working with Orlando informally, as they had done in 2023-24, and things changed in Utah when it was announced that the Utah Grizzlies were being sold and would be moving. 

 

- In my opinion, there are a couple of reasons Allen and Ottawa eventually came to an agreement. First, Steve Martinson was handling the negotiations, unlike the last two seasons when Zawyer made the decisions. His 30 years of experience give him a big advantage when talking to teams about affiliating. He is very good at selling what he can do for the affiliate, but is also not afraid to share what he needs from them, because he is not looking to get promoted to an AHL job like so many ECHL coaches. The second reason this worked out was the fact that Ottawa named a new general manager for the Belleville Senators about the same time Martinson was selected in Allen. His name is Matt Turek, and before his selection, he was the general manager of the OHL Hamilton/Brantford Bulldogs, a team previously owned by Micheal Andlauer, who now owns both the Ottawa and Belleville Senators.

Turek played professional hockey in both the ECHL and the old Central Hockey League, so he understands how the ECHL operates. Just as important, as a general manager in the OHL, just like Martinson in the ECHL, Turek was the decision maker, so he knew all of the players on all of the teams. 

Martinson and Turek had multiple conversations over months, and the potential for a good working relationship developed. One thing they had in common was a similar approach to the style of play their teams would be playing. Recently, Turek, along with Sean McCauley, Manager of Hockey Operations for Belleville made the decision to recommend an affiliation with Allen up the chain of command. McCauley had spent time in Allen under the previous affiliation with Ottawa. With the support of Turek and McCauley, the obstacles from the past were overcome, and the agreement for a one-year affiliation was made.

 

- What will the affiliation mean for the Americans? 

• Of the players Martinson has signed and announced, Braidan Simmons-Fischer and Carter Savoie will be participating in Ottawa's prospect tournament to be held in Montreal on September 13-14.  The four teams participating in what is called the "Prospect Showdown" are Montreal (host), Toronto, Ottawa, and Winnipeg.  
• There may be others attending the prospect camp who have not been announced yet. These would be players signed by Martinson, but also talked to and supported by Belleville. These aren't players that Belleville is doing a favor for Martinson. These are legitimate depth players for Belleville that will likely see time in the AHL. Turek and Martinson are working together to sell opportunity and availability.
• As part of the affiliation, Allen will be assigned players already under NHL/AHL contract from Ottawa/Belleville. The number won't be big, but the players Allen gets will be top players in the ECHL.
• Looking at the Ottawa goalie depth chart, I expect rookie goalie Jackson Parsons, who recently signed a 3-year entry-level contract with Ottawa, will start the season in Allen.. The 20-year-old is from the Ottawa area and was committed to Clarkson College, but jumped at the chance to sign a 3-year deal with his hometown team. Parsons played for Kitchener in the OHL in 2024-25 and had a breakout season. In 52 games, he had a record of 37-12-3 with a 2.24 GAA and .920 save percentage. For his efforts, Parsons was selected as the OHL Goalie of the Year. He was also awarded the CHL (Canadian Hockey League) Goalie of the Year Award. The CHL covers all three of the major junior leagues in Canada (WHL, OHL, QMJHL).
• Allen will also have many players attend Belleville's training camp. Names to be announced later.
• Carter Savoie is the only player will participate in Ottawa's NHL training camp, after the prospect tournament.   

 

OTHER COMMENTS

- Sometime this week you will start hearing names of Allen players from last season signing with other ECHL teams, some in the Mountain Division. As Coach Martinson has said, the way he has built his roster, and the affiliation with Ottawa becoming a reality, it required him to release/trade some players from last season.

 

- I posted this in the last blog, but wanted to include it again as this item is definitely a one of a kind. I hope to do a story about the eventual winner of the auction. The current bid is $650 and there are six days left to bid. In my opinion, the most meaningful piece of Allen history ever put up for auction.  

The Allen Americans locker room is undergoing a complete renovation for the first time since 2009. One of the most iconic pieces of Allen Americans memorabilia ever is up for auction. That is the logo in the carpet in the middle of the locker room. Four championship celebrations, champagne, beer, and every player in Allen history have graced that logo. And if you are a long-time reader of the blog, there might have been some crow chili spilled on that logo (no stain). The dimensions are 12'9" x 12'9", and it is in surprisingly good shape for its age, plus it has a lot of character. Here is the link to the auction, which will close on Labor Day: https://fans.winwithdash.com/event/68a49648cef70a0008267083  

 

- Here is the ECHL Stats post from yesterday listing the 16 former ECHL players that debuted in the NHL last season. The one player from Allen on the list is Donovan Sebrango. It is hard to forget the opening game of the 2023-24 season. Allen was outshot 45-19, but beat Idaho on the road, 5-2, as Leevi Merilainen stood tall in goal. The trivia question from that game was, "Who scored the first goal for the Americans to start the 2023-24 season? The answer is defenseman Donovan Sebrango. 

16 former ECHL players made their NHL debut in 2024-25. Here is the list with position, name, ECHL team, and NHL team:

 

(G) Clay Stevenson, SC (Washington)

(D) Dominick Fensore, NOR, (Carolina)

(G) Tristan Lennox, WOR (New York Islanders)

(G) Victor Ostman, KC (Seattle)

(F) Justin Robidas, NOR (Carolina)

(G) Olivier Rodrigue, WIC (Seattle)

(G) Jakub Skarek, WOR, (New York Islanders)

(F) Jacob Gaucher, REA, (Philadelphia)

(F) Rodrigo Abols, GVL, (Philadelphia)

(D) Donovan Sebrango, ALN & TOL (Ottawa)

(F) Marc Gatcomb, KAL (New York Islanders)

(F) Rory Kerins, RC (Calgary)

(D) Nate, Clurman, UTA (Pittsburgh)

(F) Tye Felhaber, IDH, FW, ORL (Colorado)

(G) Sebastian Cossa, TOL, (Detroit)

(G) Trent Miner, UTA (Colorado)

 

Totals

7 - Goalies

6 - Forwards

3 - Defensemen

 

 

 

- The Allen Americans have announced more players for the 2025-26 season than any other team in the Mountain Division. Here is the list:

 

• 18 - Allen
• 17 - Utah
• 15 - Kansas City
• 12 - Rapid City
• 11 - Tahoe
• 11 - Idaho
• 9 - Wichita
• 7 - Tulsa

Fort Wayne has announced the most players (24), and Cincinnati has announced the fewest (5). It is essential to note that some teams have signed significantly more players than they have announced. Unless teams expect an unusually high number of players to be assigned by their affiliate, most will have 20+ players under contract by now.

 

 

DID YOU KNOW: 

 

Here are the top lamp-lighters returning to the ECHL in 2025-26.

 

All have re-signed with their 2024-25 team:

37 goals - Brandon Hawkins, Toledo

30 goals - Brady Fleurent, Norfolk

30 goals - Jay Dickman, Wichita

29 goals - Ryan Wagner, Rapid City

29 goals - Anthony Repaci, Worcester

28 goals - Peter Bates, Wichita

28 goals - Carson Gicewicz, Florida 

 

 

FYI, the #1, #3, #4, #5 (tied), and #8 (tied) ECHL goal scorers from last season have either signed in Europe, signed in the AHL, or remain unsigned.